Parálisis criptogénica del III par craneal / Cryptogenic palsy of the third cranial nerve

La parálisis aislada del tercer par craneal no es frecuente en los niños. Entre las causas que la originan se encuentran las congénitas, traumáticas, infecciosas, tumorales, vasculares, tóxicas y desmielinizantes. Se presenta un paciente de 3 años de edad con el diagnóstico de una oftalmoplejía aguda dolorosa del tercer par craneal, cuya etiología no se pudo demostrar. El cuadro clínico desapareció de forma espontánea y no ha presentado recurrencias después de 3 años de seguimiento. Se concluye que ante un paciente con parálisis del tercer par craneal es necesario realizar una exhaustiva evaluación con el propósito de precisar las diversas causas que la provocan

Isolated third cranial nerve palsy is not frequent in children. Among the causes are congenital, traumatic, infectious, tumoral, vascular, toxic and demyelinizing. This is the case of a 3-years old patient diagnosed with acute painful ophthalmoplegia of the third cranial nerve, in which etiology could not be proved. The clinical picture disappeared spontaneously and no recurrence has emerged after 3 years of follow-up. It was concluded that when dealing with a patient with third cranial nerve palsy, it is necessary to make a thorough assessment to precise over the different causes

The Etiology and Clinical Feature of the Third, Fourth, and Sixth Cranial Nerve Palsy

40 patients who were diagnosed as the palsy of the third, fourth and sixth cranial nerve at Seoul national university hospital, were evaluated to reveal the etiology and clinical feature. The palsy of sixth cranial nerve is most common, and those of third and fourth cranial nerve followed it. Trauma was the most common cause of the palsy of the third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerve. Most of the palsy of the third cranial nerve involved both upper and lower branch, and aberrant regeneration was observed at 8 cases and its major cause was also trauma. The palsy of sixth cranial nerve was more frequently accompanied other cranial nerve palsy than those of the other two. Average recovery rate was 44.8% and, that of the sixth cranial nerve was higher than those of the other two.